Wagon-tongue support



(No Model.)

J. W. WETMORE.

WAGON TONGUE SUPPORT.

- Patented Nov. 22,1881.

NITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

JEROME W. VETMORE, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

WAGON-TONGUE SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 249,812, dated November 22, 1881.

Application filed March 31, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEROME W. WE'rMoRE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvementin WVagon-Tongue Supports, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in wagon-tongue supports by such springs and levers at their rear ends as carry part or all of their weights; and the object of my invention is to secure that support by a horizontal torsion-sprin g, and to preventthe rise ot'the tongue above a desired line by causing the spring to act against its further elevation. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical view of the improvement as placed 011 the gearing, when looking up under the forward axle. Fig. 2 represents a vertical view, looking down on the lover a a. A chain, i, passes over the end of the tongue, which is linked to the lever by hooks. Fig. 3 is a side view of the lever connecting the spring with the tongue. Fig. 4 represents a cross-section thro'ugh x m, Fig. 1, showing the chain passing over the tongue. 1

b c is a square bar of steel from one-half to one and a half inch in diameter. The lever to d is slipped onto the middle of the bar, which is then held firmly by the square bearings at each end. The bearings are fasten ed by screws or bolts, or both, to the hounds and axle. They may be bolted to the axle farther out, so as to give greater length to the spring when the hounds are near together.

To prevent the tongue from being thrown up too high when the road is rough or the strain of holding back is great, the strap 9, Fig. 2, is placed on the arm or lever a (1 forward of the axial bolt h of the tongue. The aroof this, g, Fig. 3, does not usually touch the tongue at its ordinary height, but is set so that when the tongue has risen as high as desired it will strike (No model.)

the strap. The strain of the spring will be taken off of the chain and will be downward on the tongue.

The lever, single or with branches, may pass under the tongue, lifting it (by reversing the action of the spring) forward of the axial bolt, and preventingits excessive elevation by pressing on the under side of the tongue, at or near its end, back ofits axial bolt. The forward end of the lever would support the tongue, and when the forward end of the tongue would tend to rise too high the lever would press up on its back end and counteract that tendency. My invention covers both forms and arrangements of the lever; but I have illustrated the application of the principle in the form first described, in which the height of the forward end of the tongue is adjusted for use, first, by the lever to (I being lowered while the spring I) c is being placed in its bearings. The adjustment is completed by means of the chain. The lever is wedged fast on the bar I) c.

The operation of the spring in the form of application represented in Fig. 1 is as follows: The weight of the tonguef, Fig. 3, throws up the end (I. The torsional action of the springbar resists this motion and holds it near to the adjusted height.

I am aware that prior inventions have been made to support wagon -tongues by torsionsprings; but

What 1 claim is- The herein-described adjustable tongue-support, consisting of the spring-bar b 0, parallel with and attached to the axle and acting as a horizontal torsion spring, and the lever ad, connecting said bar to the tongue near and at points forward and back of the axial bolt, combined, arranged, and operating substantially as shown, for the purposes set forth.

J EBOME W. WETMORE.

Witnesses:

RICHARD DUDLEY, WM. P. HAYEs. 

